Water ski



Nov. 13, 1945. SCHATZ WATER SKI Filed June 21, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 (Yap/rel. 5050 2 2 a Attorneys 1945. c. SCHATZ 89,

Filed June 21, 1944 2 Sheets-Shet 2 By v mug mug lim v Patented Nov. 13, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WATER SKI Clarence L. Schatz, Merchantville, N. J.

Application June 21, 1944, Serial No. 541,395

2 Claims.

This invention relates to water skis and more particularly to such a ski adapted to permit an individual to walk or glide along the surface of a body of water.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of an improved water ski adapted to be secured to the foot of an individual to permit him to progress forwardly along the surface of a body of water for purposes of sport, amusement, or locomotion for any desired purpose.

A more specific object resides in the provision of improved fins for such a ski adapted to permit forward movement thereof but retard movement toward the rear.

Additional objects reside in the combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully pointed out as the description of the invention proceeds and shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein there is shown a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a water ski in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the device of Figure 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a rear elevational view of the structure of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a front elevational view of the structure of Figure 1, and

Figure 6 is an enlarged perspective detail view showing one of the fins comprising a feature of this invention.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Having reference now to the drawings, a foot plate or bar I adapted as a footrest for the user i provided with a strap l l buckled as at 12 to permit engagement of the foot of the operator with plate I0, and bent downwardly adjacent its extremities as at l3 and bent outwardly as at M to provide flanges. Flanges M are provided with apertures therethrough through which are passed screws or rivets I for securing a pair of identical floats or pontoons I6 adjacent opposite ends of plate I0. Floats l6 are generally boat-shaped in configuration and provided with upturned bows IT to preclude the floats from plowing through ripples or waves on the body of water upon which they are being utilized and to permit the same to ride over such waves or ripples. Floats l6 are also provided with keels 18 to stabilize and align the same when in use.

Each of said floats has positioned on the underside of the hull thereof on opposite sides of keel l8 a row of pivot pins I9 to which are pivotally secured fins 20. Fins 20 are as best shown in Figure 6, provided with a pair of sleeves 2| separated in the middle at their upper extremity and formed with a convex side 22 and a concave side 23, the arrangement being such that the convex side is toward the bow and the'concave side toward the stern of the float. Thus it will be seen that fins 20 may pivot about pivot pins l9 in such manner that when pivoted toward the rear or stem of the float they may lie flat against the hull thereof. Stops 25 are provided adjacent each of fins 20 to limit the forward motion thereof to a point wherein the fins are positioned at substantially at right angles to the hull.

From the foregoing the mode of use and operation of the device should be readily understandable. A ski is attached to each foot of the user as by means of strap l One foot is then moved forwardly and due to water pressure occasioned against the convex sides of fins 20 as such forward motion occurs the fins fold toward the stern of their associated floats to permit easy passage of the ski through the water. As the other foot is moved forward, however, force is developed on the first-mentioned ski tending to force the same backwardly through the water, such force, however, causes fins 20 to assume right angled position, being held in such position by stop 25 to present a relatively greater surface to the water pressure to resist such tendency toward rearward motion.

While in the foregoing the device has been described for use as a water ski, a pair of such skis being adapted to be attached independently to the feet of a user, it will be understood that the construction may be utilized for other purposes, as for example, a pair of skis may be securely attached together in parallel alignment and utilized as floats for a swimmer, forward propulsive movement being occasioned by the use of the hands.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided a construction achieving all the objects of this invention and others including many advantages of great practical utility.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept and a many modifications may be made in the embodiment herein shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a foot supporting plate, a pair of aligned floats, one of said floats being secured to one end of the plat and the other float being secured to the opposite end thereof, longitudinally disposed centrally positioned keels on said floats, a plurality of rows of pivot pins on the hull of said floats on opposite sides of said keel flns pivotally mounted onsaid pins, and stop means limiting the pivotal movement of said fins, in a direction toward the bows of said floats, to a position right angles to said floats.

2. In a device of the character described, a

supporting plate, a pair of aligned floats, one of said floats being secured to one end of the plate and the other float being secured to the opposite end thereof, longitudinally disposed centrally positioned keels on said floats, a plurality of rows of pivot pins on the hull of each of said floats on opposite sides of said keel, fins, convex in a direction toward the bows of said floats and concave toward the stern thereof, pivotally mounted on said pins, and stop means limiting the pivotal movement of said fin in a direction toward the bows of said floats to a position at right angles to said floats.

' CLARENCE L. SCHATZ. 

